This page covers what to know so you can plan a stop in Odawara as part of your Tokyo Japan itinerary!
Odawara isn’t usually a main destination on a Japan itinerary, but it is a place that you might want to make a stop at. The main attraction of Odawara Castle is within walking distance of Odawara Station where you’ll arrive at by train. Also near the train station is free foot onsen. So you can have a couple of distinctly Japanese experiences that can be easy to fit into your day. As a gateway to Hakone, one of the most popular day trips from Tokyo, Odawara makes for a convenient stop alongside a trip to Hakone. From Shinjuku, it’s around 1.5 hours one-way to get to Odawara on the regular train, and you can get there a lot faster (35 minutes) on the shinkansen bullet train.
Now here’s more of what to know to plan your stop in Odawara!
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PLAN YOUR ODAWARA TRIP > Odawara Station map | Tokyo to Kyoto shinkansen stops | Hakone Loop map
Hotels near Odawara Station: Tenseien Annex | Toyoko Inn
Onsen hotels in Hakone: Hakone Yutowa in Gora | Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu | Lakefront Hakone Hotel
Odawara Castle
The big reason to consider making a stop in Odawara is if you won’t have a chance to see a castle elsewhere in Japan… and also if you want to see a castle as-seen-on-netflix!
Odawara Castle is a reconstructed Japanese castle with a picturesque moat and walls. It’s perfect for a short walk, a few pictures, and a little bit of local history without taking up much time. With 1 hour, you can comfortably walk round-trip from Odawara Station to Odawara Castle. It takes around 10 to 15 minutes to actually get to the castle from the train station.
If you dedicate more time, then you can give yourself great historical context through a ninja and samurai tour or a guided Odawara Castle tour.
Odawara on your way to Hakone
Odawara is a common transit point when going from Tokyo to Hakone. There is a direct train from Shinjuku to Odawara that takes around 1 hour 40 minutes, and from Odawara there’s a train to Hakone-Yumoto Station where you can start the Hakone Loop route to see the major sights. Take a look at Hakone travel tips for planning a day there.
Odawara as a shinkansen bullet train stop
Odawara is on the shinkansen line, so you can make it a stop when you’re traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto.
So for example, if you want to pack up and leave Tokyo to start your 7-day JR pass itinerary, you can take the shinkansen from Tokyo to Odawara. Once in Odawara, walk to the castle, then do the rooftop foot onsen and eat at Minaka Odawara. And then you can continue on to Kyoto!
Or, if you’re staying in the Tokyo area and want to take the bullet train, you can take a 35 minute shinkansen ride from Tokyo to Odawara!
If you will be going to Hiroshima, you might want to skip Odawara Castle and go to Himeji Castle instead. It’s bigger, more famous, and perfect for a Japanese castle experience! You can go to Himeji on your way to Hiroshima, or you can even do Himeji Castle and Hiroshima as a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.
Odawara Station coin lockers and luggage storage
There are coin lockers at Odawara Station that you can use to store your luggage for the day. These are self-service lockers.
There are coin lockers in several areas of Odawara Station. The most convenient ones are on the ticket gate level. If those are full, then there are also lockers just outside the east exit gate, as well as just down the stairs on the west exit side. You can use an IC card (like a suica card or pasmo card) to pay for the coin lockers.
The Odawara Station tourist information center also offers luggage storage. You’ll need to be back by 4:30pm to pick up your luggage.
Odawara map
Take a look at the Odawara map for a visual of the important things to know about when planning a stop in Odawara. Also see the Hakone map and Tokyo map for more planning.
Odawara Castle tours
It’s very reasonable to go to Odawara Castle on your own, but to get a better appreciation for the local samurai history, here are tours to consider!
Odawara Castle tour: Take a guided walk through Odawara’s historic streets and castle grounds.
Read the reviews on viator or getyourguide.
Guided ninja and samurai tour of Odawara Castle: Meet a local ninja expert, learn the local history about the castle and samurai, and get a fun hands-on experience to try out real ninja tools and techniques.
Read the reviews on getyourguide or viator.
Minaka Odawara (Things to do near train station)
Minaka Odawara is a building right next to the train station where you can go to find something to eat. You can see some of your food options in the floor guide (scroll down). This is also where you can go to do a free foot onsen in Odawara! There is a rooftop footbath (aka ashiyu) terrace, which also comes with views of Odawara Castle.
Where to stay in Odawara
As a shinkansen stop, Odawara can also make for a convenient overnight stop.
I stayed at a hotel near Odawara Station called Tenseien Odawara Station Annex. It has a free public onsen that you can use. It’s in the Minaka Odawara building, so just a few minutes walking from the train station.
Compare hotel prices for the Tenseien annex hotel and read the reviews on expedia and booking.com.
I took a shinkansen to Odawara (from Kyoto/Nagoya), and then did an overnight in Odawara. Then the next day, I left my luggage in a coin locker at Odawara Station, and then went off to Hakone. I returned back to Odawara for my luggage, and then continued onwards to Tokyo by regular train.
Day trip tours from Tokyo
From Tokyo to Odawara
👉 Day trip to Odawara with castle visit and samurai experience
Get to know Odawara more than most who just pass through the city!
From Tokyo to Hakone
👉 Day trip to Hakone Ropeway, Owakudani volcano valley, and Lake Ashi
This is one of the most popular full-day tours from Tokyo. Leave the transportation planning to someone to see the highlights of Hakone and possibly views of Mount Fuji!
Read the reviews on viator or getyourguide.
Your Netflix watch for Odawara
Make your time in Odawara more fun by watching the Netflix show called House of Ninjas!
The story is inspired by clans that were historically based in the area, and Odawara Castle makes many appearances, so it will be fun to see it in person after seeing it on TV!
Watching this show before you go will also make experiences like the ninja training in Odawara that much more fun too!
Odawara on the blog